Pressurized dispensing device



May 26, 1954 .1. P. MODDERNO PREssuRIzED DISPENSING DEVICE 1 NV EN TOR JalzPaH//addez'ao ATTORNEYS May 25, 1964 J. P. MoDDERNo 3,134,505

PRESSURIZED DISPENSING DEVICE Filed April 28, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheec 2 INVENTOR Jalz PdzzZ/l/addemo ATTORNEYS May 26, 1964 .1. P. MODDERNO PRESSURIZED DISPENSING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 28, 1960 /efcr/o/s mHAPH/cAr/UN IN VENTOR ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,134,595 PRESSURIZED DSPENSHG BEVICE John Pani Modderno, Gambrills, Md., assigner to Modern-Lab., Incorporated, Baltimore, Md., a corpotion of lfiaryiand Filed Apr. 28, 1969, Ser. No. 25,347 7 Claims. (Cl. Z22-S2) The present invention relates to a compartmental pressurized dispensing device for keeping two or more materials separated from each other until time of use. More particularly, this invention relates to a pressurized container for dispensing a plastic mass by displacing a divisional partition separating the container into compartments so that the ingredients from the compartments are thoroughly mixed and capable of being dispelled under pressure of gas forming a part of the contents of the container. This application is a continuation-inpart of my applications Serial No. 581,905, filed May l, 1956, now abandoned, and Serial No. 614,014, filed October 4, 1956.

It will be appreciated that there are various compositions Which cannot be marketed in premixed form. Such compositions may be composed of a solid granular portion and a liquid portion, two liquid portions, a gaseous and a liquid portion, or a gaseous and a solid granular portion, which cannot be mixed together prior to the time of actual use. These materials require a special type of package or dispensing device in order to maintain the portions distinct in storage condition during shipment and in storage prior to sale.

The present invention is directed broadly to dispensing all types of compositions of the above-mentioned character and has found specific utility with respect to coagulable compositions which form in situ on the human body a covering, mask, or the like, disclosed in co-pending application Serial No. 526,076, filed August 2, 1955, now abandoned, and to dispensable dental compositions and other body treating compositions disclosed in copending application Serial No. 611,386, tiled September 2l, 1956, now abandoned. The particular facial treating composition or the like is composed of a powdered portion and a liquid emulsion portion which cannot by the nature of their ingredients be brought together until use is desired. It is essential in the commercialization of a product of this nature to hold a portion of the composition in a state of inactivity for indenite periods or" time in order to account for shipping and storage periods and yet provide an effective product when needed.

The dispensing container of this invention meets this need and allows for instant use of the material when desired by providing a combination of partitioning means and a means to displace, such as by ruptun'ng and the like, the partition, such as a film, diaphragm or extensible bag, so that the ingredients forming the desired composition can be utilized for home consumption in a manner heretofore unknown in the art.

Although pressurized containers, such as re extinguishers, aerosol devices, and the like are known in the prior art, all of which serve varied functions, there is not known in the prior art a pressurized container which is uniquely adapted as a package for compositions such as described above, which allows for compartmentalizing ingredients to be brought together when desired for immediate use.

3,134,505 Patented May 26, 1964 ICC It is an object of the present invention to provide a compartmentalized pressurized dispensing device suited for packaging compositions capable of setting or coagulating on the human body or dental impression compositions, the ingredients of which must be kept separate until use, and to provide a device for dispensing the compositions under pressure of a gas to produce a plastic coagulable mass.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel compartmental pressurized dispensing device having a slidable mechanism which serves to break the dividing wall between ingredients to be mixed so that they may come together to form a composition which can be dispensed from the container.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a slidable discharge head and tube which, upon insertion through a seal on the top of the container and depressed, enters into locking engagement with the top portion of a compartmental container device so as to provide a dispensing unit capable of dispensing therefrom under pressure a material of plastic consistency When the tube has ruptured the partition forming the compartments.

Still another object of the invention is to compartmentalize a container with a rupturable diaphragm which forms a part of the seal around the clinched end of the container.

A further object is to provide a compartmentalized pressure dispensing container having a discharge nozzle capable of applying a ribbon of dischargeable product.

Another object is to provide a dual compartment within a pressurized container so that one of the compartments can be displaced by manipulation of the can without the loss of pressure to produce therein a pressurized dispensable material.

Additional objects of the present invention will become apparent from an examination of the drawings, specification, and claims.

The invention will be described further in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered an exemplification of the invention and do not constitute limitations'thereof.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a view in side elevation of the pressurized packaging device of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view in section of the device shown in FIGURE 1 with the slidable discharge and rupturing unit in a depressed position readied for operation;

FIGURE 3 is a view in elevation of a detail for retaining the discharge and rupturing unit in position until it is ready to be depressed;

FIGURE 4 is a view in side elevation of the pressurized packaging device with a conical retaining unit to hold the discharge and rupturing unit;

FIGURE 5 is a View taken along the line 5 5 of FIG- URE 4 showing the under side details of the cap on the unit;

FIGURE 6 is a side view in section ofthe device shown in FIGURE 4 With the slidable discharge and rupturing tube in a depressed position ready for dispensing;

FIGURE 6a is a side elevation View of a modied form of a nozzle for applying the dispensed product directly to the body;

FIGURE 6b is a plan view of the modified nozzle shown in FIGURE 6a;

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of the conical retaining unit;

FIGURE 8 is a View in side elevation of a modification of the pressurized packaging unit shown utilizing a dual container system with a dispensing puncturing element; and

FIGURE 9 is a View in section of the pressurized dispenser shown inV FIGURE 8 in operative condition with the compartmentalizing diaphragm ruptured.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGURES l to 7 illustrate a preferred form of the pressurized dispensing device of the present invention. The device consists of an open top main container'10 having a bottom portion 11 and a cup-shaped cover 12 iitted onto the open top of container and clinched by rolling a flangelS to provide an hermetic seal between the cover 12 and the container 10. Disposed within the container 1t? and resting upon its bottom 11 is a compartment 14 having side 15 Vand a bottom 16. VThe top of the compartment 14 is closed by means of partition 17, such as the flexible diaphragm shown in FIGURE 1. *This exible diaphragm can be made of a thin sheet of a suitable rubber compound, synthetic material, or any material capable `of separating the contents of compartment 14 from the remainder of the container and which lends itself to displacement such as rupturing. In this regard, it would be possible to utilize in place of tiexible diaphragm 17 some other sheet material provided it would be capable of being punctured and, prior to puncturing, provide a suitable closure.

The top of the cover 12 delines a central aperture with the portion of the cover 12 forming the boundary of the aperture being in the form of a rolled tiange or bead 18. Seated into the aperture is an annular' insert 19 having a ange which embracesthe bead 18 and is clinched or rolled thereto to form an hermetic seal. An annular gasket member is tted into the insert 19. It will be noted that the insert 19 is characterized by a recess whereby the insert 19 partially projects into the interior space defined by the cover 12. Slidably received in the gasket 20 is a displacing tube 21, the lower end of which is shownwith a sharp edge. The tube 21 in'ts normal positioniof repose extends from a point spaced slightly above the diaphragm 17 within the container 10 through the gasket 2t) and terminates at apoint spacedsubstantially above the cover 12 of the container. Received in the, top of the tube 21 is a valve unit comprised of a sleeve 22 which defines at its lower end a valve seat 23 and a valve 24 having a valve stem 25 attached thereto and projecting through the sleeve 22 and out of the end of the tube 21. The valve stem 25 is crimped to form lugs 26, and a spring 27v is anchored to the valve stern 25 at one end adjacent to the lugs 26 with its other end resting against the top of the Valve seat 23. The springv 27 is of the compression type and for this reason holds the Vvalve 24 tightly against the valve seat 23.

TheV top portion of the valve stem 25 is threaded as indicated at 28. Received onto the valve stern 25 is a dispensingV member 29 composed essentially of a central rounded portion 30 which merges with an annular'depending skirt portion 31 having an outside diameter'substantially equal to the inside diameter of the insert 19. Integral with the rounded portion 30 and the depending skirt portion 31 is an elongated spout or nozzle portion 32 defining a central bore 33. The free end of the spout portion 32 defines a discharge oriiice or opening in its outer wall as indicated by the numeral 34 which is in communication with the central bore 33. Likewise, the rounded portion 30 in cooperation with the spout portion 32 within the depending flange portion 31 Ydreiines an 4 37 having an inner skirt 38, which is internally threaded, is received on the end of the valve stem 25. The top cap 37 additionally has an outer depending skirt 39 which cooperates with the inner skirt 38 to deiine an annularv 39. Thus, in this condition, it Vwill not be possible for the valve 24 to be unseated. The outer depending skirt 39 of the cap 37 additionally contacts the surface of the rounded portion 30 and this serves as a further pre# cautionary measure to keep the Valve 24 fronibecoming unseated.

In order to prevent the tube 21 from puncturing theV tiexible diaphragm 17, there is provided between the depending skirt portion 31 and the insert 19 a retaining unit identiiied generally by the numeral 4t), which can be made in the form of a fanciful ligure. ThisI retaining unit locks the tube 21 in position and prevents its vaccidental depression until rupture of the diaphragm 17 is desired. Rupture of the diaphragm is accomplished by depressing the tube so that the pointedend 41 thereof pierces the diaphragm 17. Positioned on the slidable tube 21 near the end 41 is an annularV flange 42 ksurrounding the outer periphery of the tube and attached thereto so as to provide a means to prevent the tube from being forced kout of the container when the container is pressurized.

An alternate embodiment of this invention is shown in FIGURES 4 to 7, inclusive. In this embodiment, a container 10 is provided with a downwardly depending sac 43 made of a pliant iilm so arranged that the upper sides thereof tit over the edge of the top rim of the container 10 so that the crimping of the cup-shaped cover 12 divides the container into two separate compartments sealed from each other by the pliant ilm (see FIG, 6). The top of the cover 12 deiines a central aperture with the portion of the cover formingV the boundary of an aperture being in the form of a rolled iiange or bead 18. Seated into the aperture is an annular insert 19 having a rolled flange which embraces the bead 18 to form an hermetic seal at this point.

The annular insert 19 is so formed as to provideV an inner circular tlange 44 adapted to receive and retain an annular gasket 45 and a downward annular retaining member 46 which retains the gasket 45 against the ange 44 and has a downwardly extending annular guide 47.

Slidably disposed in the annular opening of gasket 45 and the downwardly extending annular guide 47 is a slidable tube 21. The lower end of the tube within the container isv cut on a bias to provide a sharp piercing end 48. The sloping end 48 resides above the bottom of the pliable iilm sac 43 when the tube 21 is in its outermost position. Received in the top of the tube 21 is a valve unit comprising a valve seat 49 against which a valve Sil rests. The upper partrof the valve is provided with a valve stem 51 which extends upwardly with its Vend threadedly engaging a top cap 52. Received onto the valve stem 51 is a dispensing member 53 composedV essentially of a central rounded portion 54 and a depending skirt 55.' On top of the dispensing member 53 and centrally located thereto is an annular boss 56 defining an opening 57 through which the valve stem 51 extends.

Interposed between the boss 56 and the under side ofthe opening 35 which is in communication with the central f bore 33 and the interior space defined by the depending ange portion 31. The top of the rounded portion 30 denes an upstanding annular tlange 36. The valve stern 25 extends through a bore defined in the rounded portion 30 and projects from the rounded portion of a pointY centrally within the upstanding flange 36. A top ,cap

Ydependent skirt portion 55 is an elongated spout or nozzle portion 59 defining a central bore 60. The free end of the spout portion 59 defines a discharge orifice or opening in its outer wall as indicated by 61. The inner end of the central bore 60 communicates with the top of the tube 21 above the valve seat so that a passageway is provided, when the valve is unseated, from the container through the tube and out through the bore 60.

The elongated spout or nozzle arrangement as shown in FIGURE 6 can be modified to present an elongated orifice lying transverse to the discharge bore so as to dispense a ribbon of the composition directly onto the body. FIG- URES 6a and 6b illustrate a spout portion 59a defining a Vcentral bore 69a with a free end of the spout terminating in an elongated pinch discharge orifice or opening 61a. It is apparent that the spout nozzle described above is integral with the discharge arrangement 53 or may be adapted to fit over the spout portion 59 as shown in FIG- URE 6 to form the nozzle. Also, the discharge orifice or opening 61a may be arranged at various angles so as to present the proper angle for application of the composition to the face when the container is held by the person applying the composition.

The bottom edge of the dependent skirt has an inwardly directed flange 62 which, when the slidable tube is depressed, snaps into locking engagement with the rolled portion of the annular insert 19 to retain the slidable tube in a locked and depressed position. A lug is positioned on the outer periphery of the tube 21 near the sharp end 48 and serves to prevent the tube from coming out of the opening in the annular insert.

Around the rolled flange edge 13 of the container and extending upwardly therefrom is a conical shaped supporting member 63 held in its conical shape by a sealing tape 64 having thereunder a tear cord 65 to facilitate cutting of the seal when the conical member is removed. The upper end of the conical member 63 extends into the annular recess defined by the dependent skirt 55 and rests against the under portion of the central rounded portion 54 to prevent the dispensing member from being depressed until use of the material is desired (see FIG. 4). The conical member 63, when assembled with the dispensing member in its upper position, forms the completed package comprising a compartmental container having a piercing tube arrangement for rupturing the bottom of the pliable film sac 43.

The conical support member when unwrapped from the container is a segment of a circle providing directions for application of the ingredients in the container as well as presenting pictorial instructions for operation of the slidable dispensing tube to effect operability of the package dispenser (see FIG. 7). The conical support member has a circular notch 66 centrally located with respect to the fiat sides of the circular segment so that, when rolled in conical shape, it provides a resting surface for fitting into the annular recess defined by the downwardly depending skirt 55 to provide support for the dispensing member 53.

It is extremely important to the operation of this package to prevent the tube 21 from being depressed prematurely into container 10. If the tube is depressed into the container before use is desired, the sharp end of tube 21 will rupture the diaphragm and thereby produce a premature mixing of the contents of the can, which renders the material useless for all intents and purposes. In place of the conical support member, a fanciful winged figure, as shown in FIGURE l, may be employed to maintain the slidable tube in storage position, and it is apparent from the drawings that the fanciful Winged figure presents a design which lends attractiveness to the package and enhances its appearance. Also, when removed therefrom, this type of ornamentation may be used for decorative purposes.

In operation, the dispensing device as illustrated in FIGURES 4 through 6 is first charged with the desired liquid ingredient. A film, such as nylon or the like, in the form of a depending sac is then placed in the container with the bottom of the sac positioned above the liquid. The upper Wall of the sac is formed over the top edge of container 10 so as to provide two compartments within the container. Ingredients in the form of powder are then placed in the sac in the proper proportion to that required to be mixed with the liquid to form a dispensable product. The cup-shaped cover is then placed over the top edge of the container covering the upper Wall of the sac. The cover is rolled in place by a clinching operation to provide an hermetic seal with the upper wall of the sac sealed between the container and the cover. This clinching operation provides for a dual compartmental arrangement within the dispensing container. rl`he annular insert containing the slidable discharge tube is then assembled and rolled in place to provide an assembled container, or it may be assembled to the cup-shaped cover prior to its assembly to the container. The top cap 52 is then adjusted so that inert gas can be charged to the container through the orifice 61. After the container has been charged with inert gas and is under about 50 p.s.i. pressure, the top cap is screwed downwardly to seat the valve so that the gas cannot escape. The conical support member is then assembled and the package is ready for storage or shipment.

In like manner, the dispensing device illustrated in FIG- URES l and 2 is assembled by first filling compartment 14 with a liquid portion and placing a diaphragm over the top thereof to maintain a completely separate compartment. The compartment containing the liquid is introduced into the main container 10. Thus, a container 14 holding the liquid portion with the diaphragm 17 in place forms a sub-assembly which can be previously prepared and introduced into the container 10. Thereafter, the powder portion or other liquid portion is introduced into the container 10 on top of the diaphragm 17 and the cover 12, annular insert 19, and slidable tube 21 are assembled together with the container 10. After assembly, pressure is built up in the container 10 by introducing a suitable inert gas under pressure into the container 19 via the valve unit and tube 21 until the pressure in the container has reached about 50 p.s.i. Next, the dispensing member is placed on the Valve stem 21 and the cap 37 put in place. As a final step, the fanciful Winged figure or another type of retaining unit 40 is added to serve as a spacer to prevent premature depression of the tube 21.

When it is desired to use the containers assembled as described above, the retaining unit 41 is removed and the tube 21 is at this time depressed into the container 10. This action causes the sharp edge at the end of tube 21 to rupture the flexible diaphragm 17 or the bottom of the sac 43 to enable mixing of the portions heretofore kept separate. With the tube 21 depressed, the depending skirt portion 31 cooperates with the recessed insert 19 to make the necessary seal, or, in the case of the embodiment using a sac to form the compartments, the depending skirt liange 61 engages bead 18 to make a seal at this point.

Dispensing of the composition is achieved by loosening the top cap one or two turns and, thereafter, depressing the cap to cause the valve to become unseated. The pressure of the gas introduced into the container exerts a force upon the top surface of the now mixed composition forcing the mixed ingredients through the tube, past the valve, and through the central bore and out of the discharge opening 3S ready for application.

In FIGURES 8 and 9, there is illustrated an alternate embodiment of the present invention. The container 10 and the compartment 14, having a flexible diaphragm cover, are essentially the same units as illustrated in FIG- URES 1 and 2 and hereinbefore described. The cupshaped top and annular insert are also the same. This embodiment differs only in that the annular insert is provided with an annular rubber gasket 68 which serves as an encasement for the valve mechanism. The gasket 68 has an annular recess 69 around its outer periphery into nylon, rubber, cellophane, and the like.

, which ts an annular upward extension of insert 19. The

bottom portion of the annular gasket is provided with an outwardly flaring iiange 7i) which rests against the bottom of the annularinsert. Extending upwardly, the gasket is provided with a tube-shaped member 71 which encases a valve stem 72. The valve stem is provided with a Valve 73 which seats againstr a rubber valve seat 74 located in the lower part of the annular gasket. The top of the'valve stem has a pinched section 75 which holds the gasket encasement as an assembly around the Valve stern and provides the pressure for sealing the valve. Encasing the outer periphery of theV extension of the gasket yis a plastic sleeve 76 for-guiding thev dispensed product from within the can. Lateral movement of the plastic sleeve causes the extension on the annular gasket to deform, thereby providing a distorted passage-way and an unseating of theV valve from which the material in the container is expelled by the pressure therein when the diaphragm is ruptured. Extending downwardly from the valve proper is a rod 77 which has at its lower extremity a piercing blade 78- located directly over the diaphragm 17.

In operation, the container is assembled with suitable ingredients as discussed hereinbefore in relation to the assembly of the embodiment of FIGURE l. After the container is charged with the two materials, each in its separate compartment, and the container pressurized with an inert gas, it is necessary only to cause the inner compartment toV be forced against the sharp edge of the cutting blade to rupture the diaphragm. Rupturing of the diaphragm permits the two portions of ingredients to come together and mix. The product is then in condition to be expelled from the container and slight tilting of the exten'- sion on the annular gasket causes deforming of the rubber Vsurrounding the valve stem and the valve unseats, emitting the dispensed product.

The dispensing nozzle as shown in FIGURES l and 2 and in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 can be liared atits outer end so as to provide an elongated orifice which will allow the material to'be ejected in ribbon form and be applied directly onto the face or body as shown in FIG- URES 6a and 6b. This type of aperture permits direct spreading of the product Vfrom the pressurized container and, consequently, saves time and energy, especially in cases where the material is coagulable for vuse as a mask or covering. The liared orifice may also be directed at sideration.

an angle so that the container may be conveniently held in the hand at the proper angle to etect application.

The diaphragm or film used to form separate compartments in the container may be a Mylar hlm, which is a trade name for a highly durable transparent, water repellent lm of polyethylene terephthalate resin characterized by outstanding strength and chemical inertness. Many other materials may be used, e.g., polyethylene, The film can be impervious to gas or be of the membrane type, depending on the use to which it is put. The thickness of the material will depend, 'of course, upon the condition under which the pressurized container is to operate, and the type ofiilm will in like manner depend on the nature of the ingredients and to some extent on the product to be dispensed from the container. n

When a product having a heavy creamy consistency is desired, it has'been found that argon gas provides an excellent propellent and dispensing agent for the device of this invention. It has been found that argon provides an aerosol propellent which will dispense a product with the minimum of foaming. Control of foaming is important where the composition desired must have a creamy consistency with a minimum amount of bubbles therein, such as molding of dental impressions. An excessive amount of bubbles would produce undesirable porosity, which would not allow the mold to presenta continuous film surface having all the detailed impressions of the oral cavity Ythat are necessary for making a usable denture.

`It has also been found that the degree of solubility'can be i foaming that is acceptable and the nature of the ingredients forming the dispensed product.

It has also been found that pressures between 30 and 50. p.s.i. give` very good results, but other pressures can be used. When using high pressures, the thickness and bursting strength of the container must be taken into con- It has also been found that the range of pressure is somewhat dependent upon the physical conditions of the material to be dispensed and whether it is to be dispensed as an aerosol'or a plastic mass.

It is to be understood that the container can be compartmentalized into a plurality of compartments havingl a series of partitions forming the boundaries therebetween and that this concept comes within the scope and breadth of this invention.

Also, where films are used as the partitions, the rupturing means may be any sharp or piercing device vwhich ruptures the film, such as a plunger associated with the side of the can, or the like. Y

It will be appreciated that the upper compartment may contain materials such as liquids, solids, foams or the like, and that the partition when placed under pressure by gas in the lower compartment will compact and hold the product until the partition has been dislodged, whereby homogeneous mixing of the material and the gas will be effected to form the dispensable product.

Although the present invention has been shown and described in terms of preferred embodiments, nevertheless various changes and modications such as areV obvious to one skilled in the art are deemed to be within the pur- View of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A pressurized dispensing device comprising a pressure container; sealed compartments in said container for holding product forming ingredientsl separate from each other until use is desired, said compartments separated by an openable partition; a slidable tube means for conducting product from the container slidably mounted in a wall of said container, the top end of the tube extending above said container and the bottom'end positioned above said partition; and valve means for effecting the discharge of product from the container to the atmosphere, operably Vconnected to said tube means, whereby depression of the -slidably mounted tube means causes the bottom end t0 open said partition and be positioned adjacent to the bottom of said container while effecting mixing of the ingredients from each compartment to form the dispensable producty before its discharge through said tube means to the atmosphere.

2. The pressurized dispensing device of claim 1 in which said tube means has means associated therewith for holding the tube in a fixed position until depression thereof is desired.

3. The pressurized dispensing device of claim 1 in which means is'provided to hold said tube means in a depressed position.

4. The pressurized dispensing device of claim 1 in which a means is associated with said tubemeans to prevent said tube from being accidentally depressed in said container.

5. The pressurized dispensing device of claim 1 in which the discharge means has an elongated orifice for Y v spreading aribbon of dispensed product from said-con- 1 in which said s1idab1e tube means has a sharp element on the botom end thereof.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 D. 136,098 Hartman Aug. 3, 1943 695,323 Mittinger Mar. 11, 1902 718,941 Wigmore Jan. 20, 1903 1,106,327 Areson Aug. 4, 1914 10 2,139,097 Pquerey Dec. 6, 1938 i@ Smith Nov. 17, 1953 Nosik Oct. 25, 1955 Mack Mar. 13, 1956 Plummer Sept. 3, 1957 Ayres Apr. 8, 1958 Mendenhall Nov. 11, 1958 Hirt et a1. Mar. 24, 1959 Weinert Aug, 11, 1959 Elam et a1. Sept. 27, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain July 3, 1957 

1. A PRESSURIZED DISPENSING DEVICE COMPRISING A PRESSURE CONTAINER; SEALED COMPARTMENTS IN SAID CONTAINER FOR HOLDING PRODUCT FORMING INGREDIENTS SEPARATE FROM EACH OTHER UNTIL USE IS DESIRED, SAID COMPARTMENTS SEPARATED BY AN OPENABLE PARTITION; A SLIDABLE TUBE MEANS FOR CONDUCTING PRODUCT FROM THE CONTAINER SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN A WALL OF SAID CONTAINER, THE TOP END OF THE TUBE EXTENDING ABOVE SAID CONTAINER AND THE BOTTOM END POSITIONED ABOVE SAID PARTITION; AND VALVE MEANS FOR EFFECTING THE DISCHARGE OF 